Atlantic Council

Biography

Mihaela Carstei

Mihaela Carstei is the associate director for the Energy and Environment Program at the Atlantic Council, specializing in infrastructure development, bilateral energy relations, emerging energy technology, and policy related to energy and the environment.

Prior to joining the Atlantic Council, she served as a graduate assistant to professors Dr. Peter Castro and Dr. Stuart Brown at Syracuse University. While working for Dr. Castro, she conducted research aimed at developing a peace education program and identified best practices associated with peace education in Ethiopia. In working with Dr. Brown, she evaluated the sustainability of the US hegemonic position and considered new developments in the US economy, foreign, and energy policies. She further analyzed the implications of the global energy landscape for the US, the vulnerabilities of major shipping routes, the presence of major oil resources in failed or failing states, and the surfacing of China as a credible competitor for the fixed supply of oil.

Previously, Ms. Carstei worked at the Montana World Trade Center at The University of Montana, where she developed research reports for the Montana World Trade Center staff and provided research support for specific consulting projects directly relating to regional companies.

Ms. Carstei is a PhD candidate in international economics from the faculty of international economic relations at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania. She completed her master’s degree at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a concentration in international environmental policy and global markets. She holds a BS in international business and management from The University of Montana, and a BA in cybernetics and economic forecast from the Academy of Economic Studies. She was a fellow of the Soros Foundation/Open Society Institute Program in 2002-2003.